I am an avid gardener. I love to grow all types of plants. I have often described myself as a farmer trapped in a builder’s body. There is something truly fundamental in nurturing a plant from a small seed to maturity. One of the important components to a healthy garden is fertilizer. Without fertilizer and proper nutrition, plants will grow but they will struggle and grow very slowly. So, add a bit of fertilizer and poof, they will explode with growth! Amazing really. I have also found that too much fertilizer is no good. If you over fertilize you can actually kill the plant or cause severe damage. The other interesting part of fertilizer is how they make it. A common ingredient is urea which is actually found in urine. You will surmise this if you put your nose in a bag of fertilizer. How can something so nasty be a catalyst for growth?
There is a parallel to this in another element of growing your project or business. This element is self- promotion. Chris Brogan, a renowned blogger, recently wrote in a newsletter that self-promotion is “very tricky”. I completely agree. Yet, without self-promotion, you are similar to the plant without fertilizer. You will likely limp along and the growth of your idea will be painfully slow. If you over promote, you will probably turn people off. They will actually run from you. And it will be stinky. Kind of like the fertilizer. So where is the sweet spot? Where is the proper dose of fertilizer for your idea?
The best promoters have a sense for this stuff. You must develop skills in order to build interest and curiosity. I think that the most effective promoters accomplish this through the power that comes from a sincere belief in themselves and their project. You have to truly believe in what you are doing. They push out the self-doubt and take a firm hold on to the dream. A skilled promoter is able control the negative feelings and transmit genuine excitement and dedication without overdoing it. Staying just this side of the stinky line.
If you are fearful of promoting yourself, you are like the plant without proper nutrition. You must promote and sell yourself. The trick is to do it in good measure. So be careful. Don’t overdue it or your message will have the opposite effect. It will be a powerful repellant- like stinky fertilizer!
Leading by Serving 
4 responses to “Something Stinks…”
What a great post, Joe. Self promotion is necessary in life. Like you said, one must do so carefully so not to come off as arrogant or too much of a salesman. I used to have a very hard time with this. Sometimes promoting oneself feels like the opposite of humility. While sitting back and figuring out how to tread lightly, another person with no problem self promoting jumps in and steals the show. I’ve learned to self promote only when it is something I am passionate about.
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Yes! There are many sides to this thing! Self-promotion is a touchy subject. I struggle with under promoting- thinking that by promoting myself I am boasting. Yet, if I stay quiet then NOBODY benefits. This one has really got me thinking- and you too! Thanks for your comments!
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Can I admit something? I stopped following a blog the other day because they posted about 5 times a day. It was too much for me. I didn’t feel compelled to read every post, but I felt SOMETHING. You know? Aghh! I don’t have all the answers, but I know how I feel. The crazy thing is that I DO remember the person now because of so much over-kill. Maybe they know something I have yet to learn?
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Yes- this is a crazy thing! Like the perfect formula! Maybe being a bit obnoxious is actually the way to go? I typically under promote which is definately no good. Nobody wins there. I need to hone my skills on this one. Sound like you are thinking too! Thanks Betsy!
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